Swivel connector for electric cords



July 19, 1949. R. BAUMANN SWIVEL CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRIC CORDS Filed Oct. 3. 1947 Insulation luau/dim:

INVENTOR. Foss Ba man 71 redes gns, mo

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,470.39: swrvm. commc'roa non ELECTRIC coans am nammn; Bakersfield, Calif. Application mm 3. 1m. Serial No. 711,020

The object or the present invention is to provide a'swivel type electricaiconnector use ii electric cords. such as those commonly employed upon electric irons, toasters, coiators. curling irons and many other electrical appliances. The twisting and kinking or the cords employed is not only a source of great annoyance but constitutes a source or danger, since the resultant rapid wearing of the cords frequently results in short circuits and costly ilres.

My invention not only prevents such kinking in the case of circuits employing only two wires in the electric cord, but also contemplates the provision 01' an electrical connector which will accommodate cords having three or even more wires in the sheath making up the cord. Cords 01' this latter nature are commonly employed in connection with telephone mouth pieces. The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

and with the several parts in exploded or sepa. rated relation;

sectional view or the structure of Fig. 2 is a Fig. 4; and

Pig. 3 is an inner end elevation or one or the halves of the swivel connection, showing the hall thrust bearing hereinafter described, in place.

numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures 0f the drawings.

In the form of the invention illustrated in the draw a casing of hard rubber or other suitable insulating material comprises the two main portions Ill and II. The two halves oi the cable to be connected are indicated at lib and Ho and these cables comprise two wires. The cuplike casing section II of insulating material has to provide a flange A cap ll has a threaded portion 35 which Screws into a threaded extension 86 oi! a metalby a screw 44.

. tion ring 55.

ngaganent 66' 2 II. and themetalliccap I'l establishes electrical connection between wire ll 32. However this enc sement circular central contact disk 53 in place upon the end of the plug 48.

The member II or the casing has an inner lining consisting of a thin metallic spirally grooved shell 54 the outer end of which is spun over and forms a seat for a leather or other suitable iric- A secon and shorter metallic nal flange 51 A cap it has a threaded extension 59 that is adapted to engage within the threaded extension 80 of the cap plate 41 of the plug 46 and when these two parts are screwed together the face ii of cap it bears upon the ring 55 and theshoulder 62 oi cap 4'! bears upon the inturned shoulder or shell 56. These threaded parts 59 and I are of such nature that when the cap 58 is ment and facilitates with respect to each other.

3 nection is through lining l2. shell ll, shell I. flange ll. metallic cap 41 and binding screw 40 to wire ll.

It will oi course be understood that in the case of Figs. 1 and 2 oneside of the clrcuit is completed through one contact disk It to theother contact disk ll, facilitated by the presence of the thrust bearing. It is clear that there must not beanycontact betweenthethrustbearingtl and the sleeve or lining I and by referring to Fig. 3 it will be secnthat the thrust bearing is enough smaller in diameter than said sleeve to leave ample clearance therebetween.

I wish it to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction set forth but includes within its purview whatever changes fairly come within either the terms or the spirit the appended claims:

Having described my invention what I claim is:

1. In a swivel connector of the character described. the combination with a two part tubular casing of insulating material of an electrical two conductor cable leading into opposite ends thereoLablockoiporcelainoi-likeinsulating material for each cable. a metallic cap for each of said blocks. one of the wires of each cable being attached to the corresponding metallic cap, metallic shells within the two part casing having threaded engagement with each other and having electrical engagement with said caps of the blocks whereby a circuit is completed through one side of the circuit, ilxed central circular contact discs projecting beyond the confronting ends of the blocksto which the ends of the wires constituting the other side of the circuit are connected, and an anti-friction thrust bearing disposed between the confronting ends of said blocks, and comprising a ring having a central opening dimensioned to flt closely around said discs and to overlap and align both of them and a plurality of anti-friction balls carried by said ring and bearing between the confronting ends of said blocks, the thickness of the ring being less than the diameter of the balls. whereby the ring is out of contact with the blocks but holds the discs and blocks in alignment with each other.

2. In a swivel connector of the character described, the combination with a two part casing of insulating material, each of said parts comprising a sleeve-like member, of a pair of two conductor cables leading into the opposite en thereoi. a block or insulating material to which the wires of the said cables are connected. the connection for one of the wires of each of said cables to its associated insulating block comprising a metallic cap disposed at the outward and of said block, and an outwardly extending threaded extension carried by each of said metallic caps. a cap of insulating material having threaded engagement with each of said threaded extensions. means for uniting the two halves of the casing consisting or thin metallic threaded shells within the casing which have threaded en- Basement with each other. one of said shells being carried by each of the casing halves. the said metallic shell of one half being bound into electrical contact with the metallic cap of the porcelain block associated therewith and the metallic shell or the other half having electrical contact with the metallic cap of its associated insulating block, said block being capable 01' rota-. tion with respect thereto, binding posts carried by the metallic caps of the insulating blocks to which one oi the wires of the electric cables are connected. the other wires of said electric cables leading centrally through said blocks to central contact members comprising circular metallic discs which project beyond the confronting ends of the insulating blocks, a ring of metallic material oi a width to overlap and align the said discs while permitting rotation of said discs with respect to each other, and anti-friction balls carried by said ring oi a diameter: greater than tn: thickness of said ring. as and for the purposes se forth.

ROSS BAUMANN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Great Britain 1M1 

